Picture adjustment method and apparatus for video display appliance

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a picture adjustment method and apparatus for a video display appliance that can prevent an unskillful user from deteriorating a picture display state due to misadjustment of picture adjustment menus that cannot be easily adjusted and retrieved to the original state among a plurality of picture adjustment menus. According to the method and apparatus, a specified user selects and determines whether a plurality of picture adjustment OSDs, each of which includes a small number of picture adjustment menus, are accessible. A command for picture adjustment inputted through the picture adjustment OSDs that have been determined to be accessible only is processed to be effective, but a command for picture adjustment inputted through the picture adjustment OSDs that have been determined to be unaccessible is ignored. Thus, the misadjustment of the picture adjustment menus by an unskillful user can be prevented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a video displayappliance, and more particularly, to a picture adjustment method andapparatus for a video display appliance.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In general, a video display appliance such a monitor has apicture adjustment function, with which a user can adjust thebrightness, contrast or size of the screen.

[0005] The following is a description of a conventional pictureadjustment apparatus for a video display appliance made with referenceto FIG. 1. A control section 10 of the video display appliance controlsthe whole operation of the video display appliance, and processes auser's command inputted through a key manipulation section 20. Thecontrol section 10 also performs the picture adjustment in accordancewith the user's command, and provides an on-screen display (OSD) outputprocessing section 30 with OSD data representing the picture adjustmentstate or result. The OSD output processing section 30 displays the OSDaccording to the OSD data provided from the control section 10 on adisplay section 40. The key manipulation section 20 includes a pluralityof keys and interfaces the user and the control section 10.

[0006] The operation of the conventional picture adjustment apparatus asconstructed above will now be explained. When a user desires pictureadjustment, he/she provides the control section 10 with a command forentering a picture adjustment process by means of the key manipulationsection 20. In accordance with the command, the control section 10displays a picture adjustment OSD on the screen of the display section40. FIG. 2 shows an example of the picture adjustment OSD. The pictureadjustment OSD includes a variety of menus that can control thebrightness, contrast, size, shape, etc. of the picture. The user cancommand various kinds of picture adjustment through those menus.

[0007] The control section 10 performs the picture adjustment byreceiving a picture adjustment command through the picture adjustmentOSD, and displays the result of picture adjustment on the pictureadjustment menu. Thus, the user can easily confirm the pictureadjustment state and the result thereof.

[0008] However, the picture adjustment OSD includes a number of pictureadjustment menus that are quite difficult to adjust. For instance, it isnot only difficult to adjust the shape of the screen, colors, OSDlanguage, removing of wave patterns or color bleeding but also difficultto return them to their original state.

[0009] As described above, the conventional apparatus for adjusting thepicture of a video display appliance puts the burden of adjusting suchdifficult picture adjustment menus on the user, and this poses theproblems of deteriorating the picture display state due to misadjustmentof the picture adjustment menus by an unskillful user or a child, aswell as of disabling restoration of the picture display state to theoriginal state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apicture adjustment method and apparatus for a video display appliancecapable of improving the reliability of the product by preventingunskillful users from accessing the picture adjustment menus that aredifficult to be adjusted and retrieved to the original states.

[0011] To achieve the above object, there is provided a pictureadjustment method for a video display appliance, comprising the stepsof: selecting and determining accessible picture adjustment OSDs; ifentry into a picture adjustment process is commanded after thedetermination of the accessible picture adjustment OSDs, displaying theaccessible picture adjustment OSDs; if a command for picture adjustmentis inputted through any one of the displayed picture adjustment OSDs,checking whether the corresponding picture adjustment OSD is accessible;performing the picture adjustment in accordance with the inputtedcommand for picture adjustment if it is checked that the correspondingpicture adjustment OSD is accessible; and ignoring the inputted commandfor picture adjustment if it is checked that the corresponding pictureadjustment OSD is not accessible.

[0012] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided apicture adjustment apparatus for a video display appliance, comprising:a key manipulation section for receiving information on accessiblepicture adjustment OSDs from a user; a memory for storing information onthe accessible picture adjustment OSDs; a display section for displayingvarious kinds of information; an OSD output processing section fordisplaying an OSD according to OSD data on the display section; and acontrol section for providing the OSD output processing section with theOSD data for displaying the picture adjustment OSDs after receiving andstoring the information on the accessible picture adjustment OSDs, andprocessing as an effective command only the command for pictureadjustment inputted through the picture adjustment OSD that has beendetermined to be accessible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic construction ofa conventional picture adjustment apparatus for a video displayappliance;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a picture adjustment menu displayedaccording to the conventional picture adjustment apparatus;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic construction ofa picture adjustment apparatus for a video display appliance accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating a picture adjustmentmethod for a video display appliance according to the present invention;and

[0018]FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating picture adjustment menusdisplayed according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedherein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thefollowing description, well-known functions or constructions are notdescribed in detail since they would obscure the invention inunnecessary detail.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic construction ofa picture adjustment apparatus for a video display appliance accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3,a control section 100 controls the whole operation of the video displayappliance according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, and processes a user's command inputted through a keymanipulation section 102. The control section 100 provides an OSD outputprocessing section 104 with OSD data for displaying a plurality ofpicture adjustment OSDs in accordance with the user's command. Each ofthe picture adjustment OSDs includes a plurality of picture adjustmentmenus. The control section 100 can display each one of the pictureadjustment OSDs in turn in accordance with the user's command.

[0021] The control section 100 blocks another user's access to thepicture adjustment OSDs that have been selected by a specified user.Here, the specified user refers to a user or managing staff who iscapable of easily adjusting picture adjustment menus that are fairlydifficult to be adjusted. The specified user may command entry into amenu for determining whether the picture adjustment is accessible. Inputof such command may be turning on a power source of the video displayappliance in a state that two or more predetermined keys aresimultaneously inputted.

[0022] Once the picture adjustment is determined to be accessible, thecontrol section 100 displays the picture adjustment OSD determined to beaccessible in a black color representing an active state, whiledisplaying the picture adjustment OSD determined not to be accessible ina gray color representing an inactive state. By doing so, the user caneasily discriminate the accessible picture adjustment menus from theaccessible picture adjustment menus.

[0023] The OSD output processing section 104 displays the OSD accordingto the OSD data provided from the control section 100 on a displaysection 106. A memory 108 stores various kinds of information, and inparticular, information on the accessible picture adjustment OSDs underthe control of the control section 100.

[0024] The operation of the picture adjustment apparatus according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] The process of determining the accessible picture adjustment OSDsby the control section 100 will first be described with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 4. The specified user can command entry into the menufor determining the accessibility of the picture adjustment by turningon the power source of the video display appliance in a state that twoor more predetermined keys are simultaneously inputted among the keys ofthe key manipulation section 102. Once the specified user commands entryinto the menu for determining the accessibility of the pictureadjustment (step 200), the control section 100 displays any one of theplurality of picture adjustment OSDs on a display section 106 (step202). If the specified user requests the display of another pictureadjustment OSD through the key manipulation section 102 after displayingthe picture adjustment OSD as described above (step 204), the controlsection 100 displays the picture adjustment OSD requested by thespecified user (step 206). The picture adjustment OSDs to be displayedare brightness, contrast, colors, position and shape of the screen,language determination, special functions, etc.

[0026] If the specified user inputs information on selecting theaccessible picture adjustment while the picture adjustment OSD isdisplayed (step 208), the control section 100 determines whether thecorresponding picture adjustment OSD is accessible in accordance withthe selected information (step 210). The control section 100 stores thedetermined information in the memory 108 so as to be used wheneverdisplaying the picture adjustment OSD.

[0027] Thereafter, the control section 100 searches whether or not thespecified user commands termination of the determination of the pictureadjustment accessibility by means of the key manipulation section 102(step 212). The control section 100 continuously performs thedetermination of the accessible picture adjustment OSDs until thecommand for termination is received.

[0028] Here, when selecting the accessible picture adjustment OSD, thespecified user determines the picture adjustment OSD including thepicture adjustment menus such as brightness, contrast, position of thescreen, size of the screen, which are easily retrievable to the originalstate through manipulation by an unskillful user, to be accessible. Thespecified user determines the picture adjustment OSD including thepicture adjustment menus such as shape of the screen, colors, OSDlanguage, removing of wave patterns or color bleeding, which are noteasily reset to the original state through manipulation by an unskillfuluser, to be unaccessible. Of course, the picture adjustment OSD that hasbeen determined to be accessible can be re-determined to be accessibleif necessary.

[0029] As described above, once the accessibility of the pictureadjustment OSD is determined, the specified user or other users(hereinafter, referred to the “user”) can perform the picture adjustmentby using the picture adjustment OSD that has been determined to beaccessible.

[0030] The process of picture adjustment performed by the controlsection 100 will now be explained with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 5. The user may command the picture adjustment by means of the keymanipulation section 102. If the user commands the picture adjustment(step 300), the control section 100 displays any one of the plurality ofpicture adjustment OSDs on the display section 106 (step 302). Inparticular, the control section 100 displays the picture adjustment OSDwith a color corresponding to the pre-determined accessibility ofpicture adjustment. Thereafter, if the user requests a display ofanother picture adjustment OSD through the key manipulation section 102after display of the picture adjustment OSD as described above (step304), the control section 100 displays the requested picture adjustmentOSD (step 306). The picture adjustment OSDs that can be displayed arebrightness, contrast, colors, position and shape of the screen, OSDlanguage, special functions, etc. as shown in FIG. 7. Each pictureadjustment OSD is displayed either in black color or in gray colordepending on the pre-determined accessibility of picture adjustment.That is, the shape of the screen, colors, OSD language, removing wavepatterns or color bleeding, which have been determined to beunaccessible, are displayed in gray color, while the other pictureadjustment OSDs are displayed in black color. The control section 100ignores the command for picture adjustment made through the pictureadjustment OSD displayed in gray color to prevent misadjustment of thepicture adjustment menus, which are not easily reset to the originalstate, by an unskillful user.

[0031] After displaying the picture adjustment OSD as described above,the control section 100 searches whether or not the user inputs acommand for picture adjustment through the key manipulation section 102(step 308). If the user commands the picture adjustment, the controlsection 100 searches whether or not the corresponding picture adjustmentOSD has been determined to be accessible (step 310). The control sectionperforms the picture adjustment in accordance with the command forpicture adjustment if the corresponding picture adjustment OSD has beendetermined to be accessible (step 312). Otherwise, the control section100 ignores the command for picture adjustment.

[0032] After performing the picture adjustment in accordance with thecommand for picture adjustment, the control section 100 searches whetheror not the user commands termination of the picture adjustment throughthe key manipulation section 102 [step 314]. The control section 100performs the picture adjustment requested by the user until the usercommands the termination of the picture adjustment.

[0033] As described above, the present invention has an advantage inthat it can improve the reliability of the product by preventingunskillful users from accessing picture adjustment menus that are noteasily adjusted and retrieved.

[0034] While the invention has been shown and described with referenceto a certain preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A picuture adjustment method for a video displayappliance for providing diverse picture adjustment functions through aplurality of picture adjustment OSDs, the method comprising the stepsof: (a) selecting and determining accessible picture adjustment OSDs;(b) if entry into a picture adjustment process is commanded after thedetermination of the accessible picture adjustment OSDs, displaying theaccessible picture adjustment OSDs; (c) if a command for pictureadjustment is inputted through any one of the displayed pictureadjustment OSDs, checking whether the corresponding picture adjustmentOSD is accessible; (d) performing the picture adjustment in accordancewith the inputted command for picture adjustment if it is checked thatthe corresponding picture adjustment OSD is accessible; and (e) ignoringthe inputted command for picture adjustment if it is checked that thecorresponding picture adjustment OSD is not accessible.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the step (c) comprises the sub-steps of: searchingwhether or not a command for entry into the picture adjustment processis inputted after the determination of the accessible picture adjustmentOSDs; and displaying a plurality of picture adjustment OSDs in colorscorresponding to the pre-determined accessibility if the command forentry into the picture adjustment process is inputted.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the step (c) comprises the sub-steps: displaying anyone of the plurality of picture adjustment OSDs if a command for entryinto a picture adjustment process is inputted by the user; anddisplaying the corresponding picture adjustment OSD if the user requestsdisplay of another picture adjustment OSD while displaying the pictureadjustment OSD.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the picture adjustmentOSDs are displayed in respective colors corresponding to thepre-determined accessibility.
 5. A picture adjustment apparatus for avideo display appliance for providing diverse picture adjustmentfunctions through a plurality of picture adjustment OSDs, comprising: akey manipulation section for receiving information an accessible pictureadjustment OSDs from a user; a memory for storing information on theaccessible picture adjustment OSDs; a display section for displayingvarious kinds of information; an OSD output processing section fordisplaying an OSD according to OSD data on the display section; and acontrol section for providing the OSD output processing section with theOSD data for displaying the picture adjustment OSDs after receiving andstoring the information on the accessible picture adjustment OSDs, andprocessing as an effective command only the command for pictureadjustment inputted through the picture adjustment OSD that has beendetermined to be accessible.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein thecontrol section displays the picture adjustment OSDs in respectivecolors corresponding to the pre-determined accessibility.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein the control section enters into a menu fordetermining whether the picture adjustment is accessible, if a powersource of the video display appliance is turned on with simultaneousinput of predetermined two or more keys, determining whether each of thepicture adjustment OSDs are accessible in accordance with theinformation on selection of the accessible picture adjustment OSDsinputted by the user, and storing the information in the memory.